Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-09-08
A Strange Deliverance
IT.
BY L. b. WILSON.

There was touch of comedy
about the first and a decided trag-
edy in the latter scenes of drama IN
real life, in which played, involun-
tarily, a leading part, which has
always been interesting in Its telling
and may be equally so when written
and read.
1t was about month after the close
of the civil war, when was stationed
at town on the Mississippi, in
Louisiana, busily engaged in connec-
tion with my duties as provost mar
shal of tie division and district, in
paroling the many -confederates
who were constantly coming in, most
of them sick and worn, all hungry
and dirty.
Old Colonel c., q good rebel and
fine gentleman, considered himself
under obligations to me for sending
to his home in an ambulance his
young, brave, gray-coated and very
sick soldier. .son, and he continually
invited me to accept of his hearty old.
fashioned southern hospitality at the
home plantation about eight miles
from our post. He had three young
daughters, good rebels all, but pretty,
bright, sensible ladies, whose politl.
cal opinions never tainted their
courtesy. l was glad to seek such
pleasant company and often did so.
I received notice one day from the
Colonel that the next Sunday would
be Miss Georgia's birthday, that my
presence would add to joyousness of
the occasion, and that there would be
ample products for egg-ncgg, which
latter intimation l we'll understood to
mean that l would be greatly thanked
II I brot' tho epirituous ingredients
for that seductive concoction.
Early on the day mentioned II
mounted with two canteens, one of
whisky and one of Jamaica rum,
fastened to my saddle bow, and with
no weapons. Necessity required that
l should be in uniform passing
through our troops and lines, and as
the day was very, very warm, wore
only flannel undershirt beneath nv
closely buttoned double breasted
coat, and strapped behind me clean
white garment and two collars pol
ished in the best style of the laundry
art. I knew that l would have to
throw off my tight fitting harness
on my arrival to put on the light gray
jacket the Colonel always insisted
suited me better than the blue and
brass, and wanted to look nice
The road was long, and terribly
dusty. About 500 yards from my
place of destination I stopped, picket
ed my horse inside the fence. retired
to a thick grove of high underbrush,
| we'll knew, and through which ran a
little stream of clear water. | dis
robed and bathed; then, fresh, cool
and clean, proceeded to prepare for
inspection and review. was s,rng
Cling with tie -starched billed |
shirt, head and arms hidden, when
through the muffllpg I heard the
cracking of twigs AS I thrust my
head, with hair all tumbled, through
the bosom opening of the garment l
looked directly into the muzzles of
three revolvers and one shotgun, all
held within FIVE feet and on line
with my head in manner not calcu-
lated to increase mans appetite for
the contents.
Behind each weapon was a villain.
GUS outlaw, specimens of that class
who were rebels and murderers with
Union men and murderers and
Yankees with .he Confederates; men
who met with no mercy or sym
pathy from the true soldier of either
side. Worse still, | recognized from
descriptions often given me that one
Of the party was Mat Kingsley, whose
house near the post had been forced
to take as a smallpox hospital, and
whom l had heard vowed vengence
upon me for the act. RIA
There was nothing to do but ,
throw up my hands, and l did it
There was no use arguing or pleading
With such gang, so | put bold front !
IN the matter and tried to compro- l
nise.
| had q couple of hundred dollars I
n greenbacks In my pocket, and these 8
With my horse | offered if they would 8
rec me. They laughed the proposi-
ion to scorn. They had me and all t
hese belonging to me and intended b
o part with nothing. They had not il
expected such luck as finding me, be- b
ng on their way to some other COW. v
rdly thieving expedition, and secur- v